Dalic added: "I am proud of what we have done in the three previous matches, considering how much the World Cup berth means to Croatian football. I have already said that we can easily agree [a contract] later, and today we have done so.

"I would like to express my gratitude to the president Suker and HNS executive committee for believing in me, and I can promise that I will continue to give my all to have Croatia playing at the highest level, in accordance with our players' quality."

Dalic previously spent seven years with clubs in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

It is the second straight time Croatia have advanced to the World Cup with a coach appointed late in the qualifiers, with Niko Kovac guiding them to the 2014 tournament.